Cruelty-Free Men’s Grooming Products

15 Men’s Skin Care Products That Don’t Test on Animals

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When it comes to sacrificing our comfort for convenience, many people can be pretty reluctant to actually do it. We much prefer to have all the effort go on behind the scenes so we can walk away with the final product unphased. Easy peasy. Examples of such ... inconveniences, we’ll call them, can be found behind the tech we use, the clothing we wear, and of course the food we eat.

However, a part of our lives that is often forgotten when it comes to animal testing is our grooming products. Awareness is on the rise, but there is still a lot of confusion about what actually goes into making your favorite products. Countries around the world have banned animal testing — Norway, India, New Zealand, South Korea, and the 28 countries of the European Union — but the United States isn’t on that list. Part of the issue is that China, a major purchaser of American cosmetic and skin care products, requires animal testing for most beauty and personal care goods sold.

According to 2013 poll data provided by the Humane Society, 73 percent of Americans are in favor of banning animal testing. So why are we still testing on animals? Do we really need to? The short answer: No.

What Is Cruelty-Free?

Before you start filling up your cart, here’s what you should know. “In the U.S., there is no single legal definition of the term ‘cruelty-free,’ and the FDA’s website even states that this allows for the unrestricted use of the term,” says Amanda Nordstrom, company liaison for PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies Program. “Unfortunately, this means that some companies may state that they don’t test on animals — even while they’re paying for tests on animals in China.”

“Companies and brands on PETA’s cruelty-free list have all verified that their policy against tests on animals applies not only to their finished products, but also their ingredients, raw materials, and formulation,” Nordstrom tells us.

Tara Foley, founder and CEO of clean skincare and beauty store Follain, adds, “You can also look for third-party certification seals like the Leaping Bunny … Many cruelty-free products don’t yet have these seals since it takes a lot of time and in some cases, money, for the brands to get and use the seal, but [they] are a sure-fire way to know that something is cruelty free.”

That means every ingredient from beginning to end didn’t get tested on an animal.

Is Cruelty-Free Less Safe or Effective?

According to Foley, cruelty-free products are just as safe as those that are tested on animals. In fact, maybe even more so. “If a company is so certain about the safety of its ingredients for the consumer, they don’t need to test the ingredients on animals,” she tells us. “You can assume cruelty-free products are generally safer than products that have been tested on animals.”

On efficacy, Nordstrom says these products may actually do more: “A product that has not been tested on animals [isn’t necessarily less effective] than products tested on animals, since there are many scientifically validated sophisticated non-animal methods companies can use in the research and development phases to perfect their products for their target efficacy and shelf life.”

Simply put, products that have been developed using non-animal test methods may be even more effective when used by consumers. “Some brands use all-natural ingredients that are gentle and known to be safe. Most others use ingredients that have been in use for many decades without endangering humans,” Nordstrom explains.

The numbers are starting to show that consumers are paying more attention than ever before. Sixty-three percent of women and 44 percent of men would be very or somewhat likely to stop purchasing a brand that was reported to test on animals. Foley supports these stats, adding, “While historically, smaller, newer, clean indie brands have launched with cruelty-free status, established brands ... have now recently made the move to cruelty-free certification based on growing consumer demand.”

Cruelty-Free Grooming Products to Try

If you think you’re ready to try grooming products that work great while leaving animals out of the equation, then we have a list 15 grooming essentials ready to take the place of those other, less friendly options.

Maapilim

This gentle cleanser is suitable for all skin types and includes argan, rosemary, and jojoba oils plus witch hazel and aloe vera. All sourced from the rich coastlines surrounding the Great Sea, Maapilim products are all-natural and don’t have anything they don’t need. This cleanser doesn’t leave your face feeling tight or itchy, only handsome.

OZNaturals

The older guys get, the more they tend to notice sun damage and want to try and fix it. The quick answer is to start using a Vitamin C serum. The problem? These serums usually cost $100 or more. OZNaturals packs the punch of its higher priced counterparts, but does so at a much lower cost to you, and to the world around you.

Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant’s new vegan retinol cream stands apart from others thanks to its lack ingredients from their Suspicious Six: essential oils that can irritate skin, alcohols that dry out skin, silicones that can clog pores, and SLS (or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), which is a harsh skin-stripping detergent. When using a Vitamin A retinoid, the more natural and less irritating, the better.

ASARAI

The white Australian kaolin clay, red Australian clay, and aloe vera work together to detoxify and clear up clogged pores while soothing and keep it hydrated. This brand from the Land Down Under also donates a portion of sales to better the environment through 1 Percent for the Planet.

Abbott NYC

With fragrances inspired by the founders favorite destinations — think clean cold water, crisp dry grass, and open fires for Big Sky, Montana, or the crisp mountain air, rushing water, old wood, and leather of Telluride, Colorado — their latest fragrance Voyagers is inspired by the waters, grasses, trees, and wildflowers of Minnesota Voyageurs National Park.

Oribe

“Luxury” and “cruelty-free” aren’t often used together, but in the case of Oribe, they are. The signature Côte d’Azur fragrance is paired with the rich ingredients including coconut oil, coconut fatty acids, and vegetable glycerin to make a bar of soap so good, we gave it an AskMen Grooming Award.

Captain Blankenship

This new one-of-a-kind gel feels much better than those crispy, crunchy ones full of alcohol, fragrance, artificial everything (that bright blue color isn’t natural — you know that, right?). Even after dry, it still feels like it’s you hair under there instead of a shell of shellac holding it in place. All the better that it’s from Captain Blankenship, a certified B Corp that is Leaping Bunny Certified.

Jack Black

This body scrub uses the Jack Black fan-favorite Turbo body wash fragrance, but in a more-bang-for-your-buck scrub. Still offering a rich sulfate-free lather, this includes sea salts, arnica, and eucalyptus to both clean as well as buff away rough, dry skin.

Summer Fridays

Paraben- and sulfate-free, vegan, and made in America, this hydrating mask from the young brand Summer Fridays prides itself on its all-natural ingredients. Currently focusing on their three distinct masks, we picked the original Jet Lag Mask for an AskMen Grooming Award.

John Paul Mitchell Systems

John Paul Mitchell has been against animal-testing for almost 40 years, and this Skin and Beard Lotion is all you need if you crave some lightweight moisture after a shave. It also works in place of a shave, instead of lathering up with a thick face cream or greasy beard oil.

Method

AskMen Grooming Award winner Method Men body wash in naturally derived with a fresh forrest fragrance. It lathers up quickly and rinses clean. They’re a Certified B Corp and Leaping Bunny Program approved, and they use all recycled plastic in their packaging — that’s a lot for a brand that can clean everything in your home, including you.

Dr. Dennis Gross

Looking at the innovative, technology-driven, dermatologist-formulated products from Dr. Dennis Gross, you may think the brand couldn’t possibly be completely cruelty-free, but not only can it say that, but PETA certifies it. This dark spot correcting serum is one of the latest launches straight from the doc using ingredients that together are shown to be a viable alternative to hydroquinone, a controversial and potent skin lightening ingredient.

James Read

We appreciate how well this fine spray tanning mist from James Read works. It has aloe vera, witch hazel, and chamomile, which means it’s perfect to help soothe post-shave. We like it so much we gave it our AskMen Grooming Award for best tanner for oily skin.

Whereas this is a great list of men’s cruelty-free grooming products, by no means is it all of them. As consumers pay more attention to what goes into making their favorite products, brands are being held more accountable. Whether it’s for the environment, the animals, or simply for your own skin, using products that try to be better should make you feel better, and that will help you feel great, every day.